Community Broadband

Longmeadow Voters Reject Municipal Fiber Network Proposal

The vote followed what broadband advocates described as a telecom industry-backed astroturf campaign.

Georgina Mackie

May 14, 2026 — 2 min read

Screenshot of Ben Brown, a member of Longmeadow's Municipal Fiber Task Force, presents at the annual town meeting on May 12, 2026.

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2026 – A western Massachusetts town will remain reliant on incumbent broadband providers after voters Tuesday rejected plans for a municipal fiber network.

Residents at Longmeadow’s annual town meeting voted 374-270 against Article 7, failing to reach the two-thirds majority required to approve an $8.6 million appropriation for the first phase of a planned $27 million town-owned network.

The proposal would have funded construction of a central fiber hub, an initial pilot area, and part of a second construction phase expected to serve roughly 1,600 homes and about 50 businesses and multi-dwelling units.

Post tagged in

Community Broadband Fiber Longmeadow Massachusetts Ben Brown Comcast Erica Weida Tom Shea Minnesota Domestic Policy Caucus Community Networks ILSR

Utility Pole Costs a Major Expense for BEAD Broadband Projects

Researchers say make-ready expenses could cost up to $4.63 billion nationwide

AI Preemption Debate In Congress’s Hands

The longer Congress waits, the harder it may be.

Verizon CEO Sees Starlink, Amazon LEO Capped at 5 Million U.S. Subs within 10 Years

Meanwhile. New Street Research says rapidly growing Starlink doubled its global subscriber base in 2025, hitting 2.7 million U.S. customers and becoming a Top 10 ISP